It’s amazing.

National, state and local public health scientists are toiling to understand all aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Epidemiologists, economists, statisticians, medical experts and ethicists are meeting daily to understand how the stay-at-home order might be lifted. Bio-engineers are rapidly advancing testing. And public health communicators are simplifying and communicating these very complex topics.

It’s working.

Public trust in institutions is high, a recent poll published in Scientific American found, with eight in 10 Americans (79%) rating the performance of public health officials as either excellent or good. A national consumer poll by marketing firm ReviveHealth found that public health officials are the most trusted source of information about COVID-19.

Americans understand the need to stay at home, and most are changing their daily behaviors. 

Here are ten ways public health communicators have effectively responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

1.      Providing daily information: They are doing a great job communicating fresh, local and specific data, insights and news on a regular cadence. This is good: polls show U.S. adults want daily information about the pandemic. 

2.      Using Facebook, Facebook live, Twitter and Instagram: Kudos to PIOs for pushing out branded “Stay home, stay safe” messages, graphics, content and short videos. Some are even monitoring the social media conversations that come from those posts and responding to questions.

3.     Building new website sections: PIOs have rapidly built multiple new website pages to more fully explain public health orders, facts, travel advisories and more.

4.      Being on hand for press coverage: The news media is covering the pandemic 24/7, and PIOs are serving as a critical source of unbiased, scientifically based information. It’s not easy to pull together press conferences day after day.

5.      Telling people what they can do: The public needs to feel a sense of control during a crisis. Smartly, public health communicators are giving us things we can do, like walk, exercise, and bond over Zoom.

6.      Being a role model: PIOs are putting their leaders into press conferences, masks on. Experts are speaking personally about what social distancing looks like in their families and neighborhoods.

7.      Expressing empathy:  PIOs remember this is an economic, financial, social, public health and health care systems crisis. They are expressing empathy for our many hurts. 

8.      Admitting limits of understanding and effectiveness: They are admitting that there is a lot we don’t know about this virus. They’re putting their recommendations in context.

9.      Pushing the conversation forward: Some PIOs are encouraging end-of-life discussions with family members as well as issues of health equity. Thank you for your courage. 

 10.  Discussing mental health and self-care. Many of us are grieving the loss of family members, freedom, a feeling of safety, normalcy and trust. Thank you for providing resources and recommendations on this important topic. This will become even more important as the pandemic wears on.